Elizabeth Schwan-Rosenwald

A recognized expert in pro bono service, Elizabeth has worked with companies, intermediaries and nonprofits in building, leading, and advancing the pro bono movement since joining the Taproot Foundation in 2009. With increasing demands on our nation’s nonprofit sector, Elizabeth is dedicated to bringing together corporate professionals and nonprofit executives to solve the infrastructure challenges that keep organizations from achieving full programmatic scale.

During her tenure at Taproot, Elizabeth has served as both the Executive Director for the Chicago office as well as the Vice President of External Affairs prior to taking on her current role. In addition she has launched Pro Bono Week a worldwide celebration of pro bono, brought the impact of pro bono to bear on critical issue areas facing our communities via new collaborations and partnerships, and introduced new programming on pro bono readiness and nonprofit capacity building.  

Prior to her work with the Taproot Foundation, Elizabeth founded 20% Theatre, an all-women’s theatre company dedicated to addressing the inequity of women and power imbalance in the theatre arena. Elizabeth served as Artistic and Producing Director of 20% Theater from 2003-2010 producing shows including the world premieres of The Whole World is Watching and Tester.  

In addition, Elizabeth works as a consultant (pro bono and otherwise) with the Benevolent Group a consulting practice dedicated to innovation, exploring different avenues of program approach and positioning and changing the conversation to achieve crucial social goals. The Benevolent Group was founded by the members of Benevolent a digital nonprofit that introduced new ways in addressing issues of income inequality through connection and giving.   

Her 15+ nonprofit fundraising career spans some of Chicago’s most prominent arts and social justice organizations. Elizabeth is an alumni of the American Express Academy of Leadership and holds a BA from Smith College in English and Theatre.